This is the Research Data regarding Flamable mixtures, Early Thermal Weapons and Incendary Resources.

Flaming Arrows: Flaming arrows had oil- or resin-soaked tows tied just below the arrowhead. They would be ignited before fired at the enemy with a Bow. The Romans used advanced Fire arrows. They filled metal tubes with incendairy mixtures and attached them to their arrows or sometimes even their Spears.

Naft: Naft is an islamic version of the Greek fire made out of a petroleum base and sulfur.

Oil: Oil has various military applications. You can heat oil and pour it over your enemy which causes Terrible burn. However you schouldnt boil the oil because the smoking point of oil is below the boiling point.The Byzantines created incendiary devices like fire pots which could be thrown by hand or ballista. Another mixture was mixing oil form nuts with cannabis and flax, which then was heated in Metal Containers and launched by mangonels, this mixture bursts into flames on ImpactThe Chinese created a primitive kind of grenade using hemp soaked in oil and cooton, which were then set alight and thrown by mangonels.

Boiling Water/Hot Sand: Cheap alternatives to Hot Oil were to use boiling water or hot sand and they were effective. They could go through the smallest of holes in the enemys armour and they cause terrible burns.A mixture using Water is to add Ale then boil it and pour it over your enemys. This mixture can peel their skin off.

Pitch: Burning pitch was used in warfare by the mongols, They fired burning pitch containers with catapults over the enemys walls during Sieges. Also Wheels can be covered in pitch, set on fire and rolled along.

Resin:The Carthaginians used Burning charred logs and oakum soaked in resin during sieges.

Tar: The Scots used a mixture containing wood,tar and sulfur which they used during the siege of Berwick upon Tweed.

Animal Products: Animal Fat is a very good accelerant and can be used to burn out mines for example.Another method using animal products is to mix a hot mixture containing pitch wax and fish.

Quicklime: Quicklime is very usefull in naval warfare because it reacts if it comes into contact with water. Though storing it on ships is a dangerous thing to do because if it gets in contact with water it´ll blow up.

Smoke: Burning sulfur generates toxic smoke which can clear enemy mines. Actually it doesnt really matter which kind of smoke you use for example you could use straw or wood. This technique has been used since Ancient times in Warfare,

Firelances: Firelances are the first known Gunpowder weapon of Earth. It was developed during the chineese Song Dynasty.The earliest fire lances were spear weapons combining a bamboo tube containing gunpowder and munition tied to a spear. Upon firing, the charge catapulted a projectile or dart along with the flame. These fire lances had a range very limited range. Being a weapon that is made out of a spear, it was initially used as a hand-to-hand weapon with the gunpowder shot being an advantage in combat.

Sources: Sadly only Wikipedia. I searched for other sources but google didnt give me anything besides the same Text on 20 or so different websites. :/Written by: Olaf Hakan

Olaf Hakan
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